Chapter 77 – Happy Halloween!
Before Hotch could take a step into the other room, though, Sebastian had a hand on his chest and Christian moved in front of him. "Remember, Aaron, you are only here to watch and learn," Sebastian whispered.
"He may have come in uncompelled, but there is no way he is doing that of his own free will!" Hotch insisted in hushed ferocity as he pointed past Christian into the room beside them. A man was chained to the far wall and three females and one male were feeding on him, and they were all partially naked.
Christian looked back over his shoulder at the party Hotch was intent on crashing and then looked back at Hotch with a grin. "Use those brilliant ears of yours and reevaluate your opinion."
Hotch snorted in disgust and about shoved his way past the ancient vampire, but Sebastian gripped his suit jacket a little tighter as he caught Hotch's eyes. "How many are human, Aaron?"
Hotch frowned even more as he focused his hearing past the music and then his brows shot up. "The ones feeding are human?" He could clearly hear four human hearts pounding at different but rapid paces and only one slow beating vampire heart.
Christian shrugged. "Some people are into different things."
Hotch looked at his mentor. "And they're drinking his blood?"
Sebastian tugged him away from the door. "Yes." Once they were far enough away from the door, he let Hotch go and motioned to the table where the others were waiting.
"I see Aaron noticed the harem," Jenny offered with a chuckle. "If he got that upset by that, don't let him see the nest downstairs."
Hotch frowned. "Nest?" he asked as he sat down beside her.
Michael laughed as he leaned forward. "Several vampires and humans partaking is what could only be described as a blood fueled orgy."
The disgusted look that overtook Hotch's face made all of them laugh, and he sighed. "No, I do not want to see that."
That made most of them laugh even harder, but Willie shook his head. "A nest, most of the time, is the term used for a family of vampires who live together."
Hotch glanced back towards the door to the other room as he remembered Officer Schewel mistaking him and his team for a nest of vampires back in Hawaii. He looked back to his supernatural family. "Alright, but why were they drinking his blood, and why was he letting them?"
Michael shrugged. "It might be just a kink."
"Or they might be his pets," Jenny offered and then laughed at the look on Hotch's face.
Willie snorted. "Some vampires like to keep several humans with them for a time with the promise of bringing them across if they please them enough. Course, some never have any intentions of actually doing it."
"But some do," Christian put in. "Vampires start out as human, Aaron, and with your job, I'm sure you know that some humans are very twisted."
Hotch sighed as he nodded. He knew all about how twisted some humans could be. He looked at his new 'sister'. "You don't seem as offended as the others. Do you have any pets?"
She chuckled and took a drink from the tumbler in her hand. "Ani would kick my ass for calling her that, but yes."
Hotch studied her for a moment and then looked to Sebastian who shook his head as he laughed. "Anastasia is Jennifer's wife of seven years and there's no comparing her to those people in there."
"You're married?" Hotch asked with raised brows.
Jenny huffed as she raised her chin. "Don't sound so shocked, stud. I have had many people, male and female, love me through the years."
Hotch felt his cheeks heat. "I didn't mean. . . I. . . Sorry," he uttered as he sank down into his seat a little.
Christian and Michael busted out laughing. "At least she has someone new to pick on," Christian put out and then hit Willie's arm.
Willie rolled his eyes and then looked at Hotch. "Don't let her fool you, Aaron. Jenny loves Ani very much and as soon as Ani's two sons are of age, she will be joining our little family officially."
Hotch smiled with that. "So you have two sons? That's great. How old are they?"
"I have kids, too," Michael put in quickly. "Mine are just a little older, that's all."
Hotch turned to him with furrowed brows. "A little older?"
Sebastian laughed. "He brought over his step children as soon as they were of age over one hundred years ago."
"Mandy and I have been married for one hundred and twenty-seven years," Mike announced proudly as he raised his glass.
Christian reached over and clinked his glass with his own. "He still has a while to go before he beats my record, but he has a wonderful family. Well, now that his kids have finally outgrown that annoying stage, anyway."
They all laughed at that and Hotch turned back to Jenny. "My boys are fifteen and my daughter is seven."
Jenny's smile was genuine. "Ty is twelve and Zac will be sixteen in January."
"Will you be bringing them across, too?"
"Ty wants to, but Zac still says no. Zac is too into developing his own sense of self, but Ani hopes that he will come around. How about you, do you plan on bringing your wife and kids across?"
Hotch sighed. "My wife, yes, but every time the kids bring it up, we keep telling them that we'll discuss it more seriously once they're older."
Sebastian nodded. "Kids change their minds all the time, so that's probably best."
They all nodded their agreements, and then Hotch looked at Willie. "So do you have anyone special in your life?"
The young looking man shook his head. "No. I haven't found the right person yet."
When Willie's eyes darted to Jenny's and then back to Hotch's, Hotch glanced at Jenny who was in the process of biting back a grin, and Hotch mentally frowned. He wasn't sure whether Willie was thinking about Kahlan or not, but he felt a growl wanting to crawl out of his throat.
Mike stood up and grabbed Hotch's shoulder. "Come on, I owe you a drink."
He frowned as he stood up. "And I can't have it here at the table like the rest of you?"
Christian smiled as he also stood up. "Yes, but you may want to sample some of them before you decide on which one you really like." He wrapped his arm around Hotch's shoulders and started to steer him back towards the main part of the bar. "I'll point out some of my favorites," he instructed as he led him even further away and Michael moved in beside them.
Hotch smirked but let himself be led. "You just don't want me walking around this place without either you or Sebastian being my chaperone."
Michael laughed. "Don't take it personally, Aaron. They did it to all of us, too."
XXX
After about an hour of hanging out in the bar with them, Hotch stood up. "I've really enjoyed this, but it's getting late and I need to get home."
Sebastian smiled as he stood up, too.
"Wow, your lady sure does have you wrapped around her finger," Jenny teased with a big grin.
Hotch shrugged. "When I'm not on a case, I like to spend as much time at home as possible."
They all stood up. "Is Kahlan going to be at your house tomorrow?" Willie asked him with a bright smile, but when Hotch's stare emerged, Willie licked the smile away and looked at the floor.
"Hopefully we can meet your whole family," Christian put in quickly.
Hotch took a deep breath. "Yes, they will all be there."
Jenny moved in and took Hotch's arm and headed him towards the bar. "Come on, stud. You can come with me to settle our bill."
Once they were far enough away from the others, Jenny leaned in close to him. "You don't have a problem with the kid, do you, Aaron?" she asked him seriously.
Hotch sighed through his nose. "I don't like the infatuation he seems to have with my wife," he admitted in a quiet tone.
She laughed. "He told me all about her."
Hotch's stare blossomed and he started to turn back to the others, but she stopped him with a firm hand and looked him in the eyes. "The reason he's so taken with her is because she reminds him of his mother, Aaron. Black hair, blue eyes. . . he insists that your wife could be his mother's sister."
Hotch frowned. "What?"
She shook her head. "He lost his whole family when he was seventeen but he was closest to his mother, and your wife looks just like her. He doesn't think about her like you suspect him of doing."
Hotch chuckled. "His mother?" He sighed as he ran his hand along the back of his neck. "Wow, I really read that wrong."
She chuckled. "He was just trying to get her to like him."
He inhaled deeply. "Alright."
She tugged on him again to make him look at her. "He wants you to like him, too."
He winced but he nodded. "I promise to cut him some slack."
She smiled. "Good, cause I'd hate to have to kick your ass."
He huffed.
"He's my little brother. I won't put up with anyone being mean to him."
He could see the seriousness in her expression, so held up his hands. "Alright. I promise."
She nodded and started them towards the bar again. Hotch wouldn't let her pay, though, and she shook her head. "But we were taking you out."
He huffed. "And?"
She shook her head. "I thought guys were ok with women paying in today's day and age?"
He smiled as he accepted his credit card back form the bartender. "Call me old fashion."
A sly smile spread on her lips. "A could call you a few things, but I'm not sure you would like them."
"Come on, we have to get young man to his car before it turns back into a pumpkin," Christian joked as the rest of them joined them.
Hotch shook his head as he followed them to the door. They're worse than Dave and the team.
XXX
Once he was in his car, Hotch text Kahlan to let her know he was on his way, and she text him back asking him to pick up a bag of ice. He sighed. 'Anything else?'
'Nope. I got the rest today, but I forgot ice, sorry.'
'It's fine. I'll be home soon. Love you.'
'Love you, too, Hun.'
He smiled and put his phone back into his pocket. He looked back towards the luxury hotel and bit his lip. I really hope that tomorrow goes well. After a deep breath, he put his car in drive and started home.
XXX
As Hotch approached the convenience store's glass doors, he quickly reached to open it for a woman who was carrying a tray of coffees. She smiled her thanks, but as her eyes took him in, they widened as she froze in her tracks.
"After you," Hotch offered as he stepped back to allow her even more room and silently wondered why she was so bothered by him; he clearly heard her heart speed up as she stared at him. Shit! I really hope I didn't get any blood on me at the bar!
She shook her head and then smiled again. "Thank you," she uttered and quickly went through the opened door and to the right.
Hotch looked down at himself and was relieved to see his shirt and tie pristinely clean. With a shake of his head, he went in search of the ice.
As Hotch came out of the convenience store with ice in hand, his head snapped to the right. He heard a woman pleading but he could tell that she was far away. What the hell? He put the bag on the top of his car and started down the sidewalk.
"Please don't. . . I'm begging you. . . please!" he heard a little more strongly and he could hear the fear in her tone so he sped up a little more. There were way too many people around to move any faster, so he bit his lip and prayed that he could find the woman and help her in time.
"Shut up, you fucking bitch! I'll cut you!"
Hotch felt a growl growing in the back of his throat as he searched down every alley.
"No!" she screamed but it ended abruptly. Hotch's heart dropped into his stomach and he had to will himself not to speed up even further. As he walked, his hand absently went to where his pistol usually hung, and then he winced when he remembered it wasn't there. He had left both of his pistols locked up in his office with meeting his new supernatural family, but after a second, he smiled to himself. I guess I really don't need a gun now.
When he got close to the next alley, the smell of blood told him he was in the right place. His eyes searched the dark alley, but he couldn't see anything other than two dumpsters about halfway down it. He slowed his movements and looked into each doorway as he passed them. He tried to focus his hearing to see if there were any heartbeats around him, but being in town made it too difficult to isolate them well enough to tell if the one he could hear were truly in the alley or in the buildings around him.
He slowed even more as he got closer to the dumpsters, and when he saw a woman's feet encased in dress heels sticking out beyond the end of the far one, he cringed. No! He slid his back up against the side of the massive dumpster and crept along it as he heard a man cussing under his breath. When he peeked around the corner, he saw the man straddled over the woman's abdomen as he searched through her purse, and Hotch's hands balled into fists.
"Drop the purse and get off of her," he demanded as he stepped into clear view.
The man's head snapped to him and he jumped up, but he smiled as he stared Hotch down. "I thought that would lure you down here."
Hotch frowned. "What?" He couldn't hear the woman breathing or her heart and he mentally cringed at not being able to get to her any faster.
The man nodded once and before Hotch knew it, something dropped on his shoulders, and while it was just made out of fabric, it caused his knees to buckle as if it was made out of lead. His hands shot out to the ground to help hold himself up, but it was like he was instantly being drained of all energy.
The man laughed as he stepped closer to him. "How's that feel, bloodsucker?"
Hotch grunted and tried to push himself up, but he couldn't really move anything except his head so he looked up at the man. "What are you doing to me?" he asked as his mind raced to figure out what was going on. He had no idea how the man even knew he was a vampire let alone how the material draped over him was sucking all of his energy away and making his limbs feel like they were made out of lead, too. He tried to change thinking that bringing his vampire out would give him added strength, but it wouldn't come.
The man smiled a sickly smile. "Don't worry; it's not hurting you permanently." He looked up to the right. "Nice throw, Reese."
Hotch followed his look and then mentally cringed when he saw another man up on the fire escape landing. Really, Hotchner? You let hunters get the drop on you? As he tried to figure out what to do, his attention was drawn behind the man as the woman whom he'd thought had been attacked and killed stood up. Son of a bitch!
The woman saw his eyes and laughed. "Oh, were you worried about me, honey?"
Hotch stared her down. She still didn't have a heartbeat that he could hear, so he had no idea what she was.
"He wasn't worried about you, Jill. He just smelled the blood and wanted some," the first man offered as Reese jumped down to join them. "Call Riley and have him bring the van around."
Reese nodded. "Sure thing, Danny," he told him as he took out his phone.
"What are you going to do to me?" Hotch asked them. At first he thought they were just going to kill him, but if the man in charge wanted a vehicle brought to them, they weren't going to kill him, at least not there.
"We're taking you to meet someone, bloodsucker," Danny told him and Hotch flinched as Reese reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
"Hmm. . ." the man hummed as he dug through it.
"Remember, we get to split whatever he's got," Jill insisted as she moved towards him.
Reese whistled. "Looks like we hit the jackpot with this one, guys," he issued as he held out a little stack of cash and then spread it out like a handful of cards and showed them the bills that were mostly hundreds.
"You can have it all, if you let me go," Hotch tried.
Danny laughed as he grabbed the cash and started dividing it up amongst them. "We'll keep it no matter what."
"But there's more where that came from," Hotch suggested, "a lot more."
The lead man looked at him and huffed. "You don't have enough money to buy your way out of this, bloodsucker."
"I may not look like it, but I have. . ." his words were cut off as his head was slammed to the side with Reese's vicious backhanded attack.
"Shut up!" the man demanded as he tossed Hotch's wallet into the dumpster beside them, and Hotch mentally winced knowing that it would probably take a miracle for it to be found in there.
Danny chuckled and then looked towards the van that was pulling into the alley. "Let's get him loaded up and get out of here before we draw any attention."
"Then, I'll see you guys later. Call me when you need my services again," Jill told them and started the other way.
"Always a pleasure, Jill," Danny called after her as the van driver got out and grabbed one of Hotch's shoulders as Reese grabbed the other.
Once they had Hotch somewhat on his feet, Danny reached in and emptied all of Hotch's pockets and just let the items go beside him.
Hotch cringed as his keys, some change, and his phone clattered to the pavement, but inside he was smiling. Now those will be found, and the idiot wasn't smart enough to turn my phone off. So it can be traced, and at least they'll find the abduction site.
"Oh, you won't be needing these either," Danny continued as he reached in and snatched Hotch's left forearm and took his watch off of him and then started to take his wedding ring off, too. Hotch pulled his hand back as much as he could which wasn't much, but Riley, who had ahold of Hotch on that side, grabbed Hotch's elbow and held him tight. Danny laughed as he twisted the ring off of Hotch's finger and then threw it into the dumpster.
As Hotch listened to the light metal bounce off the back of the dumpster and then hit something hard, his heart sank. No, not my ring! His eyes stung as tears threatened to make an appearance. I'm so sorry, Babe!
Danny moved to the back of the van and opened both of the back doors. "Get him loaded up, and be careful the cowl doesn't slip off of him until we get him ready for the trip."
Reese nodded and the two men practically carried Hotch to the van and set him in it.
Danny crawled in beside them and took out a huge syringe that was full. Hotch frowned as he looked at the red contents of the needle and then frowned. What the hell? He's giving me blood?
Danny smiled, though, and held it in front of Hotch's face. "You really don't want this, bloodsucker, because it's not just any type of blood," he started as he squirted a little out of the needle onto the floor.
As soon as the smell of it filled Hotch's nose, he cringed and turned his head away from it. It had the same horrible smell to it as the jar of blood that Morgan had found in the hunter's trunk.
All three of the men laughed, and when Danny nodded, the other two men held Hotch even tighter. "See, bloodsucker, this here is what we in the business call Dead-Man's blood, it's like poison to vampires. You drink the blood of the living to survive, so the blood of the dead does the exact opposite." He moved the syringe closer to Hotch's face as Reese held Hotch's chin so he couldn't turn away again. "But this specific blood, this came from a dead priest, and it will keep you incapacitated for a good long while," he continued and then sat the syringe down on the floor and reached out and pulled Hotch's tie from his neck and then unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt. A vile smile made its way to his lips as he held Hotch's shirt open. "And while it may feel like it's going to kill you, it won't."
He stabbed the two-inch long needle into Hotch's chest and pushed the plunger down. As soon as the blood entered his system, Hotch screamed and the men laughed again.
Danny nodded and they let Hotch go and he sank to the floor of the van as he screamed even more. "Let's get out of here," he told them as he got up into a crouch and pushed Riley towards the front of the van and then climbed into the passenger seat.
Reese settled onto a bench seat along the van's side and laughed. "That shit must be really potent cause it's really doing a number on him already. I don't think we even need to leave the blessed cowl on him."
Danny looked back to see Hotch curled up into a ball and clutching his chest as if he was having a heart attack, and he huffed. "Maybe he's not as powerful as he Lilly thought, but leave it on just in case."
Hotch could see black web-like streaks emitting out from the injection site and going under his shirt, and he could feel the blood emanating throughout his body as it spread searing pain.
After a few more minutes, Hotch finally quieted down as the pain started to recede, but he wasn't sure which was worse, the pain from the poisoned blood or the numbness it left behind. He closed his eyes as he laid there struggling to breathe, and he knew he was in trouble. How could you be so stupid, Hotchner? They have to be hunters. Could these guys be connected to the hunters in Hawaii? Could I have missed one?
He looked around the van floor and the multitude of fast food containers and dirty clothes told him that the men had been basically living in the van. Shit! Where the hell are they taking me?
As his body grew even more numb, he couldn't hold his eyes open any longer and he sank into darkness all the while praying that Kahlan and his team would be able to find him before the hunters finally decided to kill him.
I can't believe it's been over two years and this story is still going! I know I haven't been posting that regularly, and I want to thank those of you who have stuck with me. I promise you, though, that there is still plenty of story left! (hell, it may never end) Have a great Halloween!
